Amal and George Clooney are staying in “illegal transient hotel” in Soho

The rental owner has received multiple building violations and was raided by police and city officials last month.

George and Amal Clooney. (Credit from left: Michael Vlasaty, Fuzzy Images, UK Mission to the UN)
George and Amal Clooney. (Credit from left: Michael Vlasaty, Fuzzy Images, UK Mission to the UN)

The latest celebrity couple to stay at a Soho rental recently raided by authorities seems to have no inkling as to the townhouse’s sordid past.

The New York Post reports that the Sullivan Street property they’re renting is owned by Richard Fertig, a self-described “serial entrepreneur” who focuses on managing short-term rentals and seems to attract celebrity clientele — if its recent occupants are any indication.

Last month, John Legend and Chrissy Teigen were staying at the rental property until they left suddenly after city officials from the Department of Buildings and police raided the apartment due to several building violations related to an “illegally converted” basement apartment. Authorities say the low level unit does not have proper exits, a fire alarm or certificate of occupancy.

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The raid came amid the city’s “aggressive” crackdown on landlords violating laws, as the Post reports, and the Clooneys did respond to questions from the paper.

“In many cases, guests are also victims of fraudulent marketing and are being illegally rented units that are not set up for short-term stays, which is potentially dangerous,” City Hall spokesman Patrick Gallahue told the Post. [NYP]Erin Hudson